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“Not what I was talking about,” she stated.

Dave came to a stop at the closed gate leading to Scarlett’s property. “Figured as much. You’re such a pessimist.” He leaned across the seat and brushed his lips over hers and groaned. “I have wanted to do that to you since we arrived at the DA’s office.”

“Why didn’t you?”

"Can't be seen playing tonsil hockey with my client before going in to present a case to the DA," Dave answered. "Not that I mind, but at this stage, the fewer people know the better off we're going to be."

“I guess you’ll have to make it up to me later, huh?” Her tone held a flirty edge to it.

"Suppose so." He kissed her again before getting out of the car. Dave had been right. With as much snow as there was in town, it'd only gotten worse the closer they'd gotten to home and visibility was almost non-existent.

He opened the gate to the property then jumped back into the car so they could continue up the hill to where the refuge was located. He didn't say another word about what happened with the DA nor about Kenny's proposition. Of course, it could all be due to him concentrating on the road that, with each passing second, became more and more impassible.

“We should have waited,” she said as the tires slipped before finding traction. “We wouldn’t be driving in this shit.”

“Tell me, what’s scarier. The snow or fighting a fucking lion and winning?” Dave slowed their progression as they came to a particularly nasty part of the road.

“I don’t think I can compare the two.” Scarlett grabbed onto the armrest, digging her fingernails into it. “They’re both different situations.”

"The same kind of conditions though," Dave hedged. "So, which is worse?"

Both situations, as he put it, could've ended up with her being killed and both held an unknown quality to it too. Being in the enclosure with Jäger didn't frighten her, it was what happened after being in there that did. The road though... Every curve and dip in the road brought about an unfamiliar factor. They could be too close to the edge and fall off. Or worse, they could miss a turn and go off the side of the mountain.

"This road," she said. "I loathe it on a good day. With this snow, I downright hate it." Ahead of them as they came around the final turn, Kenny was in the big plow truck clearing a path for them. She let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding since they started up the mountainside.

“Looks like the cavalry has been busy.”

Scarlett glanced at the dash clock and frowned. They’d been driving for almost an hour and it hadn’t felt that way. “Wow, guess so.”

As they pulled into the sanctuary, Dave parked in the maintenance garage, while Kenny brought the plow closer to the main building. “Don’t need a frozen car in the morning.”

"No, you don't." She opened the passenger door then instantly regretted it. A cold blast of air knocked the breath from her lungs. She shivered standing there as the garage door lowered. "Shit. I hate the snow."

Dave was by her side, throwing his coat over her shoulders. “Come on, let’s get you inside so we can update everyone.”

“And then,” she prodded, glanced up at him as he guided her through the garage.

“And then,” Dave said. “We’ll figure out where this night is going to take us.”

Chapter Eight

While she'd been gone, Kenny, Edward, and Timothy had turned her apartment into a cozy retreat made especially for her. The fireplace she rarely used had been cleaned and a fire burned within it, warming the space. The smell of something delicious baking in the oven drew her attention after she stepped into her home. Scarlett strode into the kitchen and opened the over. The blast of heat followed by the ooie-gooie bubble of cheese and sauce made her mouth water. Someone made homemade lasagna while she and Dave had been gone.

“Don't open the door,” Edward said, hurrying into the kitchen. “It'll cause the layers to fall.”

“That's on a cake.” Scarlett closed the oven then turned to him. “Did you make this?”

“Yes.” He eased her out of the way. “It still has twenty minutes to cook.” He pulled the lid off of a pot still on the stove. “This is the leftovers. You can freeze it and use it later.”

She peered into the pot. Half the contents remained, and it smelled heavenly. “Thank you.”

He nodded. “Go get changed then we can eat.”

“Aren't you a pushy one.”

Edward shrugged. “I'm learning from you.” He trapped her against the counter. “Kenny and Timothy said I need to be a bit more assertive with you.”

“Did they?” She bit the corner of her lip. Edward didn't have an assertive bone in his body. He was docile. A bit airhead-ish at times, but he also had a compassionate streak even she couldn't ignore. “So, this is you being assertive with me?” When he didn't answer, she pressed. “You got me here. Now what?”